CHAPTER THIRTY
“SINCE my brother knows Miss Rosales, I’m sure there won’t be a problem,” Kyros said with a hint of a grin.
“Sure, we can give her a chance,” Kyrie said casually. “But that won’t affect our decision, I’m afraid.”
Did he forget who she was? Or did he hate her that much?
Chaya and Jellybean exchanged glances.
“You can’t be so sure about that, Boss.”
“Hold this for me,” Chaya said, handing her the water bottle and paracetamol. She fished for her flash drive inside her bag.
“Maybe you’d like to take your medicine first?” Jellybean reminded.
“No, that can wait,” she said and gave a nervous smile.
“Do you need help?” Kyros rose and sauntered toward her.
“She’s off-limits, sir,” Jellybean warned in a whisper.
“What are you talking about, Jellybean?” Kyros said in a sheepish tone. “Don’t mind her.” He winked at Chaya.
Chaya nodded politely. She handed the flash drive, and Kyros plugged it into the laptop on the table.
“Will you be okay?” Jellybean asked.
“O-of course.” Chaya pulled her hair back and pressed the side of her head, hoping it would bring temporary relief. “Thank you,” she told Kyros.
Kyros smiled as he went back to his seat. Jellybean sat on the chair so she could be near her while Kyrie turned his back and faced the glass wall. He took out his phone and dialed something.
“Good morning, everyone. I’m Chaya Rosales from Infinitales. Thank you so much for your time. I promise to make this quick,” she began and opened her presentation. “A few months ago, I was blessed to witness a gift-giving event organized by Kving to a poor community.”
Jellybean beamed.
“Someone said you only need at least one person to believe in you. It could be yourself, someone you love, someone who loves you, or even a stranger. Kving doesn’t know all the names of these people they are helping. So, is there no love in that? Of course, there is. When you put love in anything you do, a stranger who sees it will feel it. And the next thing you know, it’s spreading.” Chaya played the animation on the next slide. An animated image of a boy with shabby clothes appeared. “We’re going to call this young boy Hugh. Hugh is sitting on a filthy bleacher. He is watching a group of kids playing basketball on an old basketball court. He loves basketball, but he had no shoes, so he could not even join a tryout. At first glance, it’s hard to tell if he knew anything about this sport. He is from a poor family. At a young age, he forgot how good he was and that he could be better because his family could not afford his dream from the get-go…”
CHAYA frowned at the sour taste in her mouth as she threw up for the second time inside the restroom this time.
“You know what, let’s just go to the hospital,” Jellybean said outside the cubicle.
She drew a breath.
“I’m good now,” she said. Chaya felt like she had unloaded everything from her stomach. Her head felt lighter now. She stood up and went to the sink to wash her hands.
“Are you sure?” Jellybean still looked worried.
Chaya smiled and turned to her. She pulled her into a hug. “I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you,” she said through teary eyes.
“Oh, Chaya, that was nothing.” Jellybean stroked her back. “Will you drink the paracetamol now?”
“Sure, after I’ve filled my stomach. I only ate bread this morning because I was in a hurry.”
“You should have just called in that you’re not feeling well. Something worse could have happened to you,” Jellybean scolded as Chaya pulled away.
Chaya squinted her eyes.
“You didn’t tell me he’d be here.”
“Well…” Jellybean bit her lip. “I didn’t know he’d be here either. He just showed up, and I didn’t know how to tell you. That must have been awkward for you.”
Chaya swallowed and shrugged.
“It was. Especially that he made me feel that he didn’t want to be in the same room with me, but he didn’t have a choice.”
“You have a lot to talk about, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know where to start. And I’m not sure if he still has something to do with me.” She faced the mirror and fixed her hair. A few weeks ago, she cut her hair up to her shoulder and colored it dark red. Her face had color now. Her lipstick was ruined, though. “I’ll do a quick retouch, then we can go to the cafeteria.”
“Sure, no problem,” said Jellybean.
“I ALMOST cried with your pitch, by the way,” Jellybean said as they entered the cafeteria.
“Don’t patronize me. I was just lucky they let me present. I’m sure you’ve heard better pitches than that.”
“No. It was great. Or maybe I was indeed biased. Because you’ve been there, and you know something which those who presented before you do not. You’ve seen it with your eyes.” Jellybean pouted. “I doubt it if Kyrie himself wasn’t impressed. It will be a shame if your pitch wasn’t chosen. But it’s not for me to decide.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” Chaya looked around the cafeteria. “Oh, there they are.” She said, nodding in the direction of the representatives.
“Right. At least we’ll make new friends today.”
“LET’S HANG out this weekend. I need to breathe.”
“Yes, let’s do that.” Chaya wrapped her arms around Jellybean once again. “I’m so happy to see you again. So, I got to go. I still have a lot of work waiting for me.”
“Wait, can you drive now?”
“Of course. My headache is almost gone, anyway,” Chaya said reassuringly. “Thank you for taking care of me, Jellybean.”
“Don’t mention it. See you soon.”
“See you soon.”
Chaya took a deep breath as she headed to the elevator. It opened, and she hesitated when she saw who was already there.
She met Kyrie’s cold stare for the second time that day. And when he looked away, she stepped inside. Chaya did not know what to do. The world felt like shrinking around her.
She took another breath as the elevator closed.
“D-do you have a minute?”
He glanced at her.
“Are you talking to me?”
She swallowed. She could not believe this was the same man who looked at her like she was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
“I’m sorry about A-Avery. I know it’s a little late, but my condolences.”
“Thanks,” he replied coldly.
“And I’m sorry about last time,” she said in a small voice.
“This isn’t the right place to talk about that, don’t you think?” he interrupted. “I’m okay now, Miss Rosales. I think you should not apologize for doing something that’s worth it.”
She blinked. Worth it? What did he mean?
What was worth it about not being there for him when he needed her the most?
“Y-you don’t understand.”
“I really don’t understand.”
Kyrie stepped out of the elevator as soon as it opened on the ground floor. Chaya followed him.
“W-will you let me explain?” she said, her eyes heating up.
Kyrie stopped and faced her.
“Isn’t that her? Tyler Garcia’s girlfriend?”
“Yeah. She doesn’t look bad. But Margaux is still prettier.”
“I saw her throw up. Do you think she’s already pregnant?”
“What did you say?” Chaya spat, glaring at them.
Kyrie gazed at the two women who were talking about her. They looked away and left at once. Chaya bit her trembling lip.
Kyrie turned his back and walked away without a word.